Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
PROMINENT psychologist, Dr. Leachim Semaj, told members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) that their poor judgement and lapses in memory are due to lack of rest.
"There is no question that the most stressful job in Jamaica is that of the police. Lack of rest can result in poor decision making. Rest is an integral part of life; even guard dogs, if they are not rested, they too can break down," Dr. Semaj told a group of 25 detectives, who completed a special management course on Friday at the Police Academy in Twickenham Park, Spanish Town, St. Catherine.
Detective Inspector, Selvin Haye, said the course was designed to improve the capability of the middle management of the JCF and for detectives to improve their case file for court.
Dr. Semaj said that in people who are not rested, their bodies might be working, but their minds were not there.
He also told the detectives that if the police increased their zero tolerance approach, then that could be the solution to the country's growing crime problem.
"Just by targeting the little things, you will just start dealing with the big things," said Semaj.
He explained that persons who are involved in serious crimes are also involved in petty crimes. While the police may not catch them doing the big things, they are likely to be caught doing the little things.
"Spot checks, that is where zero tolerance starts," he said.
He further stressed that zero tolerance can be used to break down the barriers in some communities that are single-handedly run by dons. These communities are refereed to as feudal kingdoms, Dr. Semaj said.
"In a feudal kingdom, they make laws for themselves and the laws can change as personalities change," he said. "Part of your challenge is when you go back out there, how do you integrate yourself in these feudal kingdoms and replace the power base."
He said it could only be done by winning people's confidence, by the way they interact with people, and getting the people to believe that the police will be just.
Among the graduates were sergeants J.C. Messam, G.W. Williams, W.S. McKenzie, C.D. Ebanks, W.W. Duncan, A. O. Campbell, F. O. Richards, A. M. Love, F. Rhoden, A. W. Reid, D.J. Albert, P.L. Thomas, D.Forbes and P. Bernard. Graduating corporals were S.A. Stewart, S.I. Barnes, L.A. Marriott, L.A. Chambers, V.E. Sinclair, C.H. Howell, L.M. Baker, E. Reywills, J.W. Bryan, R. Grant and A. Myers.
